There’s something unique about action movies from the ’90s that later decades haven’t totally been able to recapture, but one recentGerard Butler action filmhas similar vibes, and it’s now a hit on Netflix. Modern action movies that have serious undertones and deal with high stakes certainly have their place in the cinematic world, yet there’s still a desire for what made ’90s action flicks so special. There’s a level of campiness, fun, and even the formula that brings people back to that era.
From the likes ofSpeedandCon AirtoFace/OffandPoint Break, ’90s action movies hold a special placein the hearts of many who grew up in that time and they often want more of what they loved. It’s hard to find something that matches the era’s signature tone and atmosphere, so when an action film pops up that hits those beats, it’s worth talking about. Thankfully, one of Gerard Butler’s latest movies,Plane, fits that bill and is now the #3 trending film on Netflix.
Gerard Butler’s Plane Feels Like A 1990s Action Movie
It Has Everything That Made That Era Great
The premise ofPlanefeels like something out of the ’90s. The movie centers around a commercial pilot (Butler) who joins forces with a man facing homicide charges (Mike Colter) after an emergency flight landing places them in hostile territory. Two tough dudes fighting through hordes of bad guys in an action-packed romp that lasts under two hours is exactly the kind of film that would’ve been huge in the ’90s. Colter and Butler share strong on-screen chemistry, a staple of action films from the era, whether it was Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze or Nicolas Cage and John Travolta.
The tone keeps things somewhat light despite the situation and the film ends up being the kind of thing a viewer can throw on to have a good time and not take anything too seriously.
Planealso makes sure that the audience has a great time. The tone keeps things somewhat light despite the situation and the film ends up being the kind of thing a viewer can throw on to have a good time and not take anything too seriously. On top of that,Planereceived strong critical praise, holding a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, giving it all the ingredients of a hit.
Gerard Butler Is Becoming One Of The Most Reliable Action Movie Stars
He’s Carved Out An Impressive Resume
Although Gerard Butler has worked in roles across various genres over the years,he’s mostly established himself as a solid action star. His name can be up there as a topaction star with the likes of Liam Neeson, Jason Statham, and Dwayne Johnson. What makes him so reliable in the genre is that you can almost always count on him to deliver a fun performance and be a blast to watch even when the film itself isn’t well-received.
Reign of Fire (2002)
41%
24%
300 (2006)
61%
30%
26%
28%
50%
Gods of Egypt (2016)
15%
Den of Thieves (2018)
42%
38%
83%
14%
79%
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025)
Big Nick O’Brien
62%
Gerard Butler truly broke out in the action genre with300thanks to his iconic performance as King Leonidas. From there, it wasGamer, Law Abiding Citizen,andMachine Gun Preacherbefore leading an entire franchise beginning withOlympus Has Fallen. Butler has also delivered strong performances in theDen of Thievesmovies,Hunter Killer,and, of course,Plane, which might be his most fun action flick of all.
